Woody Harrelson Joins Star Wars Han Solo Spin-Off [Updated]

Update (January 11, 2017, 1 P.M.): Woody Harrelson has indeed climbed on board Disney’s upcoming Han Solo film, StarWars.com confirmed Wednesday. “We couldn’t be more excited to work with an artist with as much depth and range as Woody,” directors Phil Lord and Christopher Miller said in a statement. “His ability to find both humor and pathos, often in the same role, is truly unique. He is also very good at ping pong.”

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With Lego Movie vets Phil Lord and Chris Miller behind the camera and nimble comedic talents like Alden Ehrenreich and Donald Glover heading up the cast, the upcoming Star Wars Han Solo spin-off was already poised to be the funniest installment in the long-running franchise. But now it looks as though Woody Harrelson may be bringing his laid-back, Southern-fried hilarity to the mix. Variety reports that Harrelson is in “early talks” to join the film as Han’s mentor. But that’s not even the strangest part of this casting news.

According to Variety, Lucasfilm executives wanted an actor with “considerable clout” to take on this role to balance the “rising star” nature of Glover, Ehrenreich, and female lead Emilia Clarke. *The Hollywood Reporter’*s Borys Kitalleges that another name in the mix for this mentor role was Christian Bale. Try envisioning the intensity of Bale in a role that may now be filled by the famously low-key Harrelson. Sure, both are capable of transforming into scruffy-looking nerf herders—but their takes would no doubt be very different.

Harrelson, of course, has plenty of experience in mentor roles, having counseled Jennifer Lawrence’s Katniss through the Hunger Games franchise and, more recently, Hailee Steinfeld in the fantastic Edge of Seventeen. And if he’s looking for inspiration within the Star Wars franchise, there are a number of beloved mentors to draw on. The options range from Liam Neeson’s Qui-Gon Jinn to Frank Oz’s Yoda to Harrison Ford’sEpisode VII version of Han Solo to Ian McDiarmid’s dark influencer Palpatine to, of course, Ewan McGregor and Alec Guinness as Obi-Wan Kenobi. Fingers crossed he leans heaviest on Yoda.

But since this is a prequel to Star Wars: A New Hope, we know Han Solo’s mentor won’t necessarily be the best influence. This won’t be any kind Jedi or even a foreboding Sith figure. Whatever advice this mentor gives, Solo will instead help form the Greedo-shooting, self-centered smuggler we meet in Episode IV. But hey: if anyone can give bad life advice with a smile, it’s Woody Harrelson.